Event: Boston Bruins at Pittsburgh Penguins
Date/Time: Monday, December 5, 2011 - 7 p.m. EDT.
Location: Consol Energy Center (Capacity: 18,387), Pittsburgh, PA.
Broadcast Info: Monday's game between the Bruins and Penguins will be broadcast live on NESN. The game can also be heard on the 98.5 the Sports Hub Radio Network, with Dave Goucher providing play-by-play, and Bob Beers providing analysis.
Last Time Out: Both teams have been hot as of late and are looking to keep that trend going into tonight’s game between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference.
Boston is riding a 14-game point streak after going 12-0-1 in the month of November. The team’s most recent win came off the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, where the B’s took a 4-1 win--their fourth win against that team this year. Nathan Horton, David Krejci, Chris Kelly and Johnny Boychuk all found the back of the net, giving them top honors in the Northeast Division.
The Penguins have continued their season successes, especially with the return of their captain superstar Sidney Crobsy. Crosby has two goals and 10 assists since his return to the ice, and the team has a 5-1-1 record in their past seven games. Carolina was their latest victim, as the Penguins beat them 3-2 with goals from Craig Adams, Arron Asham and Pascal Dupuis. Crosby had an assist.
Storyline: The last time these two teams met was on March 5 of last year. Marc-Andre Fluery recorded the 3-2 win over Tim Thomas and Dustin Jeffrey scored twice, including the game winning OT goal.
This is the first of the four games they will play against each other, and the first game Crosby has played against them since November 10 of last year. Both teams have done well on the road against each other--the Bruins have taken the last two games in Pittsburgh, and the Penguins have railed on the B’s in Boston.
Thomas who currently has a 1.76 goals-against average in his past nine games allowed seven goals against the Penguins in his two games he played against them last year.
"Our last experience in Boston, we had a great game and played really well against them," Pittsburgh head coach Dan Bylsma said. "Then of course, we watch them finish the season and go on to the success they had winning the Stanley Cup last year. This year, especially in the last 15 games, they’ve been at an elite level – the best record in the league. They’re coming into our building and you definitely look at that as a chance to play the best team in the league, a Stanley Cup champion."
Players To Watch: In a game against the two tops teams in the conference, it would be a shame to watch just a couple of players. It’s bound to be a hard-nosed tough battle between these two teams, and you can count on everyone doing their part. But it will be extremely fun to watch Crosby back out on the ice, and the Bruins first line should continue to roll with a couple of good games under their belts. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if Seguin really stepped up again in this game after being without the last few games.
Prediction: This is a must watch game on both ends. There will be lots of hard hits, fast skating and phenomenal play making. It’s going to be a close game that you don’t want to miss. Final Score: Bruins 4, Penguins 3 (OT).
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